﻿Unmapped Areas on Earth's Surface. 44") 



geology and biology of the continent ; and it is in this 

 direction that geography should look for the richest 

 results in the future. There remains much to be done 

 before we can arrive at satisfactory conclusions as to the 

 physical history of what is in some respects the most 

 remarkable land area on the globe. Though the surface 

 water supply is so scanty, there is reason to believe that 

 •underneath the surface there is an immense store of 

 water. In one or two places in Australia, especially 

 in Western Queensland and in New South Wales, this 

 supply has been tapped with satisfactory results ; millions 

 ■of gallons a day have been obtained by sinking wells. 

 Whether irrigation can ever be introduced on an exten- 

 sive scale into Australia depends upon the extent and 

 accessibility of the underground water supply, and that is 

 one of the geographical problems of the future in 

 Australia. New Zealand has been fairly well surveyed, 

 though a good deal remains to be done before its magnifi- 

 cent mountain and glacier system is completely known. 

 In the great island of New Guinea both the British 

 and the Germans are opening up the interiors of their 

 territories to our knowledge, but the western and much 

 larger portion of the island presents a large field for any 

 explorer who cares to venture into its interior. 



POLAR EXPLORATION. 



The marvellous success which has attended Dr. Nansen's 

 daring adventure into the Arctic seas has revived a 

 widespread interest in polar exploration. Nansen may be 

 said to have almost solved the North Pole problem — so 

 far, at least, as -the Old World side of the Pole is 

 concerned. That some one will reach the Pole at no 

 distant date is certain ; Nansen has shown the way, and 

 the legitimate curiosity of humanity will not rest satisfied 

 till the goal be reached. But Arctic exploration does not 

 end with the attainment of the Pole. Europe has done 



